Brisbane residents are being called upon to cast their votes and help crown the winner of the 2023 WasteSMART People’s Choice Award. The prestigious award recognises individuals, community groups, and businesses who have gone above and beyond to make Brisbane a cleaner, greener, and more sustainable city. Among the 31 finalists, several inspiring individuals from the suburb of Bardon have made their mark in sustainability.
Voting for the People’s Choice Award opened on Tuesday, 3rd October 2023, and will remain open until Monday 16 October 2023. This gives residents the opportunity to choose their sustainability champion.
Bardon – 2023 WasteSMART People’s Choice Award – Finalists
The Worm Monger: Hannah Churton
Hannah Churton, known as “The Worm Monger,” has made a significant impact in the heart of Bardon. Hannah initiated a community verge vegetable garden and a compost hub in her neighbourhood. Through these efforts, she diverted over 6 tonnes of organic waste from landfills in the last financial year. Her dedication extends to educating others on composting and verge gardening through her social channel, @the_worm_monger on Instagram, which has reached more than 20,000 followers.
Eve Tramacchi O’Keefe: A Young Environmentalist
Eve Tramacchi O’Keefe, currently completing Year 12, has displayed exceptional dedication to sustainability at Goodfolk Cafe in Bardon. She leads gardening and waste management efforts at the café, even coming in at 5:30 a.m. to work around her school schedule. Under her guidance, the café has implemented numerous sustainability initiatives, including composting, worm farming, and closed-loop practices. Eve’s role in sustainability has transformed the cafe into a hub for environmentally conscious practices.
Goodfolk Cafe: A Closed Loop Oasis
Located in Bardon, the Goodfolk Cafe stands out as a community-focused, specialty coffee and garden space. The cafe boasts six compost bins, converted bathtubs functioning as worm farms, and a 250m2 produce garden. This garden yields a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs used in their seasonal menu. Goodfolk Cafe’s sustainability efforts go beyond the kitchen, as they offer recycled op shop mugs for patrons who forget their own reusable cups.
About the WasteSMART Awards
The WasteSMART Awards, managed by the Brisbane Sustainability Agency on behalf of Brisbane City Council and sponsored by Containers for Change Queensland, Cleanaway, and The University of Queensland, aim to recognise and celebrate these local waste warriors. A ceremony will be held at Brisbane City Hall in November 2023 to announce the winners of the 12 WasteSMART Award categories, which have a combined prize pool of more than $4000.
Brisbane’s Lord Mayor, Adrian Schrinner, encourages residents to get involved in the People’s Choice Award and adopt waste-smart strategies to contribute to the city’s sustainable future. Brisbane’s commitment to being Australia’s cleanest and greenest capital city continues to grow, thanks to the dedicated efforts of individuals and businesses like those in Bardon.
Published 16-Oct-2023